The Critics Speak

I Heart Huckabees

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Fun
Released: October 1, 2004
Director: David O. Russell
MPAA RATING: R, language and a sex scene

Synopsis: Albert Markovski (Jason Schwartzman), head of the Open Spaces Coalition, has been experiencing an alarming series of coincidences the meaning of which escapes him. With the help of two Existential Detectives, Bernard and Vivian Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin), Albert examines his life, his relationships, and his conflict with Brad Stand (Jude Law), an executive climbing the corporate ladder at Huckabees, a popular chain of retail superstores. When Brad also hires the detectives, they dig deep into his seemingly perfect life and his relationship with his spokesmodel girlfriend, the voice of Huckabees, Dawn Campbell (Naomi Watts). Albert pairs up with rebel firefighter Tommy Corn (Mark Wahlberg) to take matters into their own hands under the guidance of the Jaffes’ nemesis, the French radical Caterine Vauban (Isabelle Huppert). --Taken from Rotten Tomatoes

My Take: Overall, I thought it was interesting because it requires more thinking to grasp everything that is happening than the typical hollywood movie. There were a few scenes in it that I really related to myself and my own struggle to understand the universe. One scene that struck me was when Brad gets sick of always telling stories to entertain people. I've often felt that same feeling deep in myself when people insist that I tell "the one about the..." I love Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin and they played very well off of each other. I have also tried hitting myself in the head with a ball as a result of this movie. Overall, quite interesting. Just don't take your philosophy or reason for living out of the strange universal laws from this one!

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Fun
Released: May 19, 2005
Director: George Lucas
MPAA RATING: PG-13, for sci-fi violence and some intense images.

Synopsis: Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) remains the Jedi apprentice of master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Battling dark forces that threaten the Republic, the duo quickly eliminates enemy Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), and Anakin proves--as he states more than once--that his powers have doubled. An intimidating warrior with superior knowledge of the Force, Anakin becomes the pet of Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), who is connected to the dark side. Meanwhile, Padme (Natalie Portman), the senator and former queen who is secretly married to Anakin, is pregnant, and Anakin is tortured by dreams of her dying in childbirth. With Obi-Wan on Utapau battling cyborg General Grievous (Matthew Wood), and Yoda (Frank Oz) joining the Wookiees of Kashyyyk, the sage warnings of the Jedi council (Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits) go unheard by Anakin. His moodiness and glowering are a clear precursor to his inevitable, terrifying metamorphosis into Darth Vader, the dark leader of the evil Empire who haunts the remainder of the series. John Williams's famous orchestral score with its thunderous marching themes adds more continuity, with refrains reminding viewers of STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE, in which Padme's children Luke and Leia take charge. --Taken from Rotten Tomatoes

My Take: Not as bad as Episode II, but just not as good as Episodes IV-VI. There were some interesting points and Ewan McGregor is hot when he fights people. Don't even get me started on the horrid, crappy acting by Hayden Christensen. Ugh. As usual, Lucas really has some awesome special effects contrasted by shallow character acting. My favorite parts were the fight scenes, especially the one between Yoda and Chancellor Palpatine. It's wicked cool when Yoda uses the force when he's fighting. I also enjoyed the fight scene at the end between Obi Wan and Anakin because the special effects of the lava and stuff were neato frito. So, overall it was a fun movie to watch and I fully expected to see the shallowness in acting. The best part was watching all of the teenagers exiting the movie theater while showcasing their Darth Vader impersonations, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Ponette

Critic: Steph Lewis
On a scale of 0 to Awesome, I rate this: Solid & Thoughtful
Released: May 26, 1998 (video, USA)
Director: Jacques Doillon
MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Synopsis: After a car crash injures her and claims the life of her mother, intelligent and inquisitive four-year-old Ponette contends with the loss and her attendant questions about the nature of human existence. A sensitive and thoughtful meditation that authentically renders the child's perspective. Thivisol won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival. --Taken from Rotten Tomatoes

My Take: This is one of my favorite films. I love to watch it because it helps me to gain perspective on life and meaning and on the importance of asking big questions. This also showcases some of the finest child acting I have ever seen... all of the kids are focused and real. The film shots just sit on these amazing child-actors and lets them carry the story forward. I really respect a character-based film that relies on the depth shown in the actors.

Ponette is a sensitive four-year-old who has difficulty letting her mother's death go. She keeps waiting for her mother, and conferring with lots of different people to find out how she can see her mother, how she can get closer to God, and how she can end her pain and longing. Different adults and children, who love her dearly, send her on different, sometimes conflicting, paths. But, Ponette is persistent and keeps moving forward until she finds an answer to her prayers.

If you like good acting, foreign films, and thinking... you definitely have to see this one!